"Everything that flowers in beauty, in the air of 

 heaven, draws its fairness,' its vigor, from its roots. 



"Nothing living can blossom into fruitage unless 

 through nourishing stalks, deep-planted in the com- 

 mon soil." 



ROOTS 



The roots are the vital part of the plant. 

 When the ground is moist the plant throws 

 out fine white thread-like roots, which are 

 the feeders. These small roots take in nour- 

 ishment from the soil and the sap distributes 

 it throughout the plant to the uttermost branch 

 and leaf, going up through the inner bark and 

 down through the outer bark to the roots. 



The plant breathes through the leaves. The 

 dark green matter in the leaves is necessary 

 for the formation of starch without which the 

 leaves turn yellow and wither and the plant 

 dies. When the plant is dry and suffering for 

 want of moisture these small roots dry up and 

 become hard. Supplied with moisture a new 

 crop of small roots will start out to take up 

 water and food. It is essential that vegetables 

 shall be furnished with an abundance of water 

 and not allowed to dry up or wilt and have 

 any set back if you would grow large and suc- 

 culent fruit. 



[67] 



